dog hydrolyzed diet

What to Know About Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food

Veterinary prescription dog food is used to manage a variety of health conditions in dogs, but the concept behind it isnt always clear. If your veterinarian recommends a hydrolyzed protein dog food, youre probably wondering what, exactly, hydrolyzed means.

What Is Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food?

Hydrolyzed protein dog food is a food in which the proteins are chemically broken down into tiny pieces through a water-based process called hydrolysis. This essentially makes proteins invisible to a dogs immune system.

Protein is a vital component to any diet. Your dogs muscles, hormones and disease-fighting antibodies are all proteins. To make what their bodies need, dogs take proteins from food, break them down into building blocks called amino acids, and combine those amino acids into new proteins.

In some animals, dietary proteins can trigger an abnormal immune response. Hydrolysis uses water to chemically break proteins into pieces that are so small that the immune system no longer reacts to them.

Why Your Pet Might Need Dog Food With Hydrolyzed Protein

Veterinarians typically prescribe hydrolyzed protein dog foods to treat two conditions:food allergiesandinflammatory bowel disease.

Dog Food Allergies

A dogs gastrointestinal tract serves as a gatekeeper: It allows nutrients in while fighting off disease-causing microorganisms and keeping out anything else that is potentially harmful. But sometimes the body gets confused. Dog food allergies develop when the gut incorrectly starts identifying benign dietary proteins as a potential health risk and mounts an immune response against them.

Food-allergic dogs can develop a variety of symptoms, including:

• Itchiness, which may involve the whole body or be limited to the feet, ears, and/or face

• Hair loss

• Skin lesions

• Recurrent skin or ear infections

Digestive problems likevomiting,diarrhea, andexcessive gassinessmay or may not be present as well.

Food allergy symptoms often begin when dogs are young (less than 1 year old) but can become evident at any age. Dog food allergies may develop soon after starting a new dog foodor after years of eating the same diet. Food allergies are diagnosed in all types of dogs, but some breeds appear to be genetically predisposed, including:

To diagnose dog food allergies, veterinarians typically recommend a food trial (usually lasting at least two months) during which dogs must eat only a hydrolyzed protein dog food or a diet made from a single-protein source that they have never been exposed to before. If the dogs symptoms improve over this time and then reappear when they are fed their old food, a dog food allergy diagnosis can be made.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The line between food allergies and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is sometimes blurry. Its thought that, in some cases, food allergies can develop as a result of IBD or vice versa.

In any case, dogs with IBD have abnormal inflammation of their gastrointestinal tract. The inflammation may be widespread or localized, severe or mild, and these characteristics can change over time. This explains why dogs with IBD can have different symptoms that vary in their intensities. Signs of IBD can include:

Inflammatory bowel disease can develop at any age, but its usually diagnosed in middle-aged to older dogs. Some breeds, includingBoxersand German Shepherds, appear to be at a higher genetic risk for IBD. Inflammatory bowel disease can only be definitively diagnosed with a biopsy of the affected tissues.

Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food Recommendations

Treatment for dog food allergies and inflammatory bowel disease centers on finding a diet that does not trigger symptoms. Immunosuppressive medications and other treatments may also be necessary in severe cases of IBD. Once a dog has been diagnosed, they will likely need to eat a special diet for the rest of their life.

Veterinary prescription hydrolyzed protein dog foods are an excellent choice for both food allergies and IBD. These diets are manufactured under the strictest quality control measures, which ensures that they arent contaminated by ingredients that are not included in the label. Eating triggering foods is a major reason that diagnostic food trials and treatment for food allergies and IBD fail.

Hills Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food

Both of the following hydrolyzed protein dog foods also contain high levels of essential fatty acids to promote skin health:

Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food

Royal Canin Veterinary Diets come in several hydrolyzed varieties, including:

Purina Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets come in:

Your veterinarian can help you find the best hydrolyzed protein dog food that will keep your dogs symptoms under control while still providing the balanced nutrition thats essential to good health.

Featured Image: iStock/nensuria

WRITTEN BY

Jennifer Coates, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Jennifer Coates is an accomplished veterinarian, writer, editor, and consultant with years of experience in the fields of veterinary...

What Is Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food? Pros, Cons, & FAQ

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If your dog is allergic to proteins or struggles with inflammatory bowel disease, youve probably heard abouthydrolyzed protein dog food. Meat is one of the most commonallergens¹found in dog food which often leads to itchiness and upset stomachs. The bodies of allergic dogs mistake the proteins as a threat and attack them, resulting in an allergic reaction.

However, these ingredients also provide your dog with complete proteins that contain amino acids that help their bodies function, provide them with energy, and keep them healthyand are therefore a crucial part of their diet.

Hydrolyzed protein dog food is a great alternative food for dogs with certain health problems because its made with proteins that have undergone a process in which theyve been broken down into tiny molecules that are too small to be identified by the immune system and, therefore, no allergic reaction occurs.

How Does It Work?

As we mentioned above, hydrolyzed protein dog food doesnt contain the full-form protein that is found in most dog food but rather tiny molecules of protein that are too small to be identified by the body. Thanks to science, the necessary protein your dog needs in their food can be hydrolyzed, which typically involves water and hydrochloric acid or proteolytic enzymes to break the protein peptide bonds apart to form single amino acids.

These two processes affect the breakdown of protein in a similar way that a dogs digestive system would break protein down. The protein strands can be broken down into smaller strand sizes or completely isolated to individual amino acids. Its a complex process, but it is approved by the FDA.

This type of dog food is necessary for dogs that cant digest protein well, as the protein has already been broken down and their digestive system doesnt have to do much work.

Novel Protein, Limited Ingredient, or Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food?

Dogs with protein allergies are often allergic to chicken, lamb, beef, and fish because these are most commonly found in dog food. Its unlikely for a dog to be triggered by these animal proteins at first, but after eating the same diet over time, they may develop symptoms such as itchiness, hair loss, infections, vomiting, and diarrhea. This reaction can sometimes be eliminated by changing their dog food to one that contains novel protein instead of the protein theyve always consumed.

Often, before starting on hydrolyzed protein dog food, dog owners will buy dog food with a novel protein, such as kangaroo, venison, alligator, ostrich, etc., but if their body still reacts poorly to these animal proteins, theyll need something more radical.

A limited ingredient recipe may be all your dog needs to overcome their symptoms as these recipes cut out common allergens found in dog foodbut it may not be enough for your dog, and they may need to be transitioned onto hydrolyzed protein dog food to eliminate the threat altogether.

Both limited-ingredient and novel protein dog food can be bought at pet stores or specialty retailer stores without a prescription, while hydrolyzed protein dog food can only be purchased with a prescription from your vet. You should discuss any illness and food changes with your vet beforehand.

What Types of Dogs Do Best on Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food?

Dogs with health issues that make digesting protein difficult will do best on hydrolyzed protein dog food. These conditions may be inflammatory bowel disease, food allergies, or pancreatic disease. Dogs with food allergies should have mild to no reactions, and dogs with bowel problems should experience less bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Types of Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Foods

There are many hydrolyzed protein dog food options across a variety of brands that work with nutritionists and food scientists to achieve their formulas. It is not necessary to feed your dog hydrolyzed protein if they havent been diagnosed with food allergies or digestive problems, as standard high-quality dog food is nutritionally balanced and complete and will give your dog everything they need.

You also dont need to feed your dog this type of food if their symptoms are mild or if they do well on novel proteins, limited ingredient diets, or any other diet that meets their nutritional needs. However, hydrolyzed protein diets are excellent for dogs who require italbeit more expensive and harder to get.

Royal Canin, Hills Science Diet, Purina, and several other brands cater to dogs with digestive issues. These recipes reduce reactions, such as skin itchiness, dull coat, and stomach upset due to the broken-down proteins. Most of them also include fibers and prebiotics to restore and maintain the gut with healthy bacteria.

Hydrolyzed protein dog food comes in two types: dry dog food and canned dog food.

A few excellent options of hydrolyzed protein dog foods are:

Advantages of Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food

There are many advantages to hydrolyzed protein dog food. It can reduce the symptoms and discomfort your dog faces on a daily basis caused by food allergens, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and inflammatory bowel disease. Because hydrolyzed protein is already broken down, their bodies dont have to work as hard to digest it, and its so small that the immune system doesnt recognize it as a threat.

Its a safe option for allergic dogs, and it not only reduces signs but can restore once itchy, dry, and dull skin and coats back to a healthy and shiny condition.

Another advantage to this food is that its made under strict conditions to prevent unwanted ingredients from contaminating the specialized food. By avoiding cross-contamination, you can easily pinpoint what causes your dogs allergic reactions and get answers faster.

Disadvantages of Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food

Of course, nothing is perfect, and hydrolyzed protein dog food comes with a few disadvantages. The first is the price. Because of the extensive process and strict quality control this type of food undergoes, it is very expensive and costs more than many premium dog foods on the market. How long your dog may need to stay on the food is unknown and may ultimately become a bigger expense than you anticipated.

Unfortunately, some dogs still experience flare-ups on this specialized food. What works for someone elses dog may not work as well for yours. Your dog may also refuse to eat it, and youll lose a lot of money and still have your dogs condition to worry about. Some manufacturers offer a money-back guarantee if your dog will not eat their food.

Hydrolyzed protein is bitter in taste, and dog foods often contain artificial flavors to make them more appealingbut artificial flavors can cause allergies in some dogs.

And lastly, you need a prescription to be able to purchase the most hydrolyzed protein dog food, which requires a trip to your vet, which is an extra financial and time investment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Long Can My Dog Be on Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food?

Your dog will be on the food for a minimum of 612 weeks until their symptoms subside. After this period, you can start to introduce one protein source to their food. If they have a reaction to it, you know theyre allergic to that type of protein. This process can take time, but its important to work with your vet and follow their treatment advice when your dog is on this specialized food. It is an elimination diet that identifies which types of ingredients your dog is allergic to and can rule out environmental factors as the symptoms often mimic each other.

Can I Make It At Home?

Hydrolyzed protein dog food is expensive and wondering whether you can make it yourself at home is a reasonable question. But the food is so expensive for a reason, and thats because it undergoes a special process and must be made in the lab by professionals, using the correct chemicals and equipment. Its also made under strict conditions to avoid cross-contamination. Therefore, it cannot be made at home.

What Can I Feed My Dog Instead of Hydrolyzed Protein Dog Food?

As weve mentioned above, alternatives to hydrolyzed protein dog food would be diets consisting of limited ingredients or using novel proteins instead of the common ones. However, these alternatives are not a direct replacement and arent always effective.

Some companies have started using insects as their protein source as its unlikely that dogs will be allergic to them. The black soldier fly and mealworms are most commonly used. Others believe that plant protein is the way to combat allergies in dogs, using tree nuts, edible seeds, and peanuts instead of meat. However, its important to chat with your vet before switching your dog onto uncommon formulas.

Wrapping Up

If your dog has digestive problems or food allergies, your vet may consider hydrolyzed protein dog food. This food contains proteins that have been broken down through the process of hydrolysis and are no longer seen as a threat to your dogs immune system. Youll need a prescription from your vet to purchase the food and will need to follow their feeding guidelines and treatment advice. Thankfully, there are various types of this food to choose from, and youre likely to see great improvements in your dog from it.

Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock